Given the seriousness of the threat violent extremist organizations (VEOs), and recognizing that issues of radicalization and violent extremism can be handled best at community levels, Kenya ni Wajibu Wetu (NIWETU) developed a training manual or curriculum to support VE actors in communities in their transformation agenda. The manual was entitled “Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Champions for Change Training – A Guide for Community Champions”

In support of Countering Violent Extremism efforts in Kenya, the Center for Sustainable Conflict Resolution implemented two sessions of NIWETU’s five-day Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Champions for Change training with a group of 20 champions selected from Garissa, Isiolo, Mandera and Nairobi. To do this, The Center for Sustainable Conflict Resolution incorporated in its learning goal: Inculcate knowledge on the ideological push-back actions on physical and virtual platforms to reclaim, take charge of, and control advantages of information asymmetries misused by violent extremist groups. CSCR’s specific goals were; to broaden the participants’ understanding of Prevention and Countering Violent Extremism, to help community champions build cohesion and forge a better understanding among the communities living in the targeted regions, to help community champions build community resilience against Violent Extremism among the affected communities, to provide guidance on alternative and counter narratives to the community on Countering Violent Extremism, to expand a network and collaborations that will help CSCR in implementing CVE activities and to provide opportunity and platform for sharing information and other best practices while identifying gaps in CVE